The Settlers Lot............

Some
indications of what life was like for the settlers;

Asked whether
life was enjoyed in the early days, Mr McEwan stated
that it undoubtedly was. There were no local bodies
to bother you, no rates, no labour laws, very little
politics & no government inspectors.

~~*~~

Water, a chore
to collect, was used ecconomically. A basin of water
would first wash the dairy utensils whilst fresh,
then bath the baby. Next it was used to wash the
clothes, the dishes and finally the cleaning of
floors etc before being given to the pigs.

~~*~~

Rough slab
huts, roofs of Raupo thatching, calico windows and
clay floors and chimneys. Open fireplaces tried to
burn often damp logs with heavy iron pots, kettles
and camp ovens needed to be constantly watched over.
Wooden boxes made tables and chairs, feather bads
were usually brought from 'home' and put together
with bedsteads of saplings. Otherwise matresses were
made with ferns and raupo. Pillows were made from
feathers of local birdlife, the birds ending up on
the menu.

~~*~~

"I am
going to open a Coffee House, and sell ready made tea
and coffee; There is no-one in the colony that does
it, and I think it will pay very well. (from a letter
written by a settlers wife)

~~*~~

Men were
addressed by their surnames, women were sometimes
addressed by their christian names or sometimes by
the more formal 'Miss or Mrs'. The cook was always
referred to as 'Mrs' whether married or not, a sign
of elevated status in the household.

~~*~~

There was no
matches, . If fire, lamp or candle were to be
lighted, a tinderbox of burnt linen rag, was used.
The rag was kept in a tin box with a small piece of
steel and flint. A spark was struck on to the tinder
rag and when alight, a small sliver of wood (match)
that had been dipped in sulphur was applied to it.
You needed a 'good' tinder to be successful.

~~*~~

There
were new pleasures too for the professional men. Each on his
20 acres was hard at it. 'Faustian coats and thick shoes are
very fashionable and you would laugh to see officers, doctors
and dandies, digging, thatching and chopping with great
frenzy..........economy is the order of the day and I
carpenterise, carry logs and go to council without detriment
to my gentility. (The writer was apparently a batchelor)

~~*~~

"I
am in a chronic state of hunger; it is the fault of the fine
air and the outdoor life; and then how one sleeps at night! I
dont believe you really know in England what it is to be
sleepy as we feel sleepy here, and it is delightful to wake
up in themorning with a sort of joyous light-heartedness
which only young children have."

~~*~~

My
mother talks about not being able to bear my being a slave
(Servant?), but I feel myself less a slave now that I see I
can do everything for myself than I ever did before."

~~*~~

(Of
Manawatu settlers)"There were just 2 seasons, the mud
season & the mosquito season" the latter was said to
be the worst. They were terrible, even the animals suffered
from "the contented little cusses that sing while they
toil"